updated 8-07, original 6-03

West Amwell Township, New Jersey

E.C.H.O.ELDER* COTTAGE HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

HANDBOOK

*See page 1 for definitions of elderly and disabled applicants.

West Amwell TownshipNew Jersey

For more information, please refer to the ECHO Handbook that follows

or call the Director of Housing at the Township Office, 609-397-2054.

“A loving family alternative”

• Cost-effective alternative to assisted living or nursing home

• Allows families the ability to stay together

• Allows family member(s) to maintain their independence

• *Available to family members 62 or older

• *Also available to disabled family members 18 or older

• Up to 2 family members or one family member with a caregiver

• An ECHO unit is added as a separate housing unit — 720 sq ft maximum — on a lot with an existing principal residence

Now you can keep your dear ones

very near.

E.C.H.O.ELDER* COTTAGE HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

WEST AMWELL TOWNSHIP, NJ

ECHO HANDBOOK

Table of Contents

1) Purpose

2) Definition

3) Dimensional and Building Standards

4) How to Apply

5) Occupancy

6) Contacts

7) Attachments

1) PURPOSE

The purpose of the Elder Cottage Housing Opportunity (ECHO) unit is to pro-

vide extended family housing as a residential accessory structure on a lot with a

principal residential structure. ECHO housing shall provide an alternative to

nursing home and boarding home care so that immediate elderly relatives (62

years of age or older), or disabled relatives over the age of 18, may live nearby but

not in the same housing unit. This housing is provided so that it may be installed

in an affordable manner and removed easily at a later date when it is no longer

needed. It is the intent of ECHO housing to provide for the continuing need for

mutual support within the family while maintaining individual independence and

financial security.

2) DEFINITION

ECHO UNIT – An Elder Cottage Housing Opportunity (ECHO) unit is a small

removable modular cottage on a lot with a dwelling. The ECHO unit shall be sep-

arate living quarters, accessory to a primary residence on the premises, not

exceeding 720 square feet of gross floor area for the use of and occupancy by not

more than two persons, one of whom may be a professional caregiver and at least

one of whom must be related by blood, marriage or adoption to the lot owner,

who must occupy the primary residence on the premises. One of the ECHO unit

related occupants shall be 62 years of age or older or disabled over the age of 18

as defined in Section 223 of the Social Security Act.

3) DIMENSIONAL AND BUILDING STANDARDS

1. An ECHO unit shall be considered to be an accessory use to an existing res-

idential structure and use. However, the ECHO unit shall meet the side

yard and rear yard requirements of the principal structure.

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2. Minimum lot area shall be 1.0 acres.

3. Maximum square footage of the unit shall be 720 square feet.

4. The ECHO unit shall be placed within the rear yard and not within the area

of the front and side yards. If requested by the applicant, the Township

Planning Board may grant a waiver to permit a unit in the side yard if it

can be shown that the placement of the unit will have no negative impact

upon adjacent properties.

5. The ECHO unit shall be positioned on the lot in such a way as to minimize

its visibility from other nearby and abutting lots. Additional buffering may

be required by the Township Planning Board to meet this criterion.

6. The ECHO unit shall be located only upon a lot with a single- family

detached dwelling.

7. Only one ECHO unit shall be permitted per lot, and it shall contain a bath-

room, kitchen, living and sleeping areas. There shall not be more than two

bedrooms.

8. The ECHO unit shall be self-contained, barrier-free, energy-efficient and

capable of being moved to another site. The applicant shall be responsible

for preparing the site for installation of the ECHO unit. It shall be located

on masonry block or wooden piers with adequate tie downs, not on a con-

crete slab, and shall comply with the definition of “dwelling.”

9. If requested by the applicant, and if it can be shown that the granting of the

waiver shall not have a negative impact upon adjacent properties, the

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Township Planning Board shall have the right to grant a waiver to any of

the above dimensional standards and building standards.

4) HOW TO APPLY

1. Application and approval for an ECHO unit shall be considered a minor

site plan subject to the review and approval of the Planning Board. Upon

submission of the application and checklist, the applicant shall pay an

application fee of $100.00 and establish an escrow in the amount of $500.00

for professional review, subject to the requirements of the Land Use and

Development Ordinance of West Amwell Township. Notice of an applica-

tion for an ECHO unit shall be given in accordance with the provisions of

N.J.S.A. 40:55D-12.

2. Written approval of existing well and septic systems by the County

Department of Health must be submitted along with the application to the

Township Planning Board. The existing system may be expanded if neces-

sary, but a separate septic system shall not be created for the unit.

3. To obtain information on availability of ECHO houses, contact

Hunterdon County Housing Corporation at 908-806-4196.

5) OCCUPANCY

1. An ECHO unit is for the use and occupancy by not more than two persons

who are related by blood, marriage or adoption to the owner of the pri-

mary dwelling, who must occupy the primary residence on the premises.

The unit may also house one professional caregiver if the unit is only occu-

pied by one qualified individual. One of the ECHO unit-related occupants

shall be 62 years of age or older or disabled over the age of 18 as defined

3

in Section 223 of the Social Security Act. The caregiver and/or non-quali-

fied occupant must vacate the unit within 60 days of the qualified occupant

vacating the unit.

2. In the event of the death or permanent change of address of the

occupant(s) of the ECHO unit, the owner of the primary dwelling shall

give written notice to the Zoning Officer within 15 days of the change.

3. Within 90 days of the death or permanent change of address of the occu-

pant(s) of the ECHO unit, the ECHO unit shall be removed from the prem-

ises and written notification of such shall be given to the Zoning Officer. To

facilitate this requirement the unit shall either be part of an ECHO Housing

Unit Program sponsored by a governmental unit or agency or non-profit

program; or the municipal agency shall be satisfied that adequate provi-

sions (such as bonding to ensure the removal of the unit) have been made

guaranteeing the removal of the ECHO unit at the end of the term of the

subject occupancy.

4. Within 60 days of the removal of the ECHO unit, the lot shall be restored

by the owner of the primary dwelling to the status prior to the installation

of the unit. The owner of the primary dwelling shall give written notifica-

tion of such to the Zoning Officer within this time period, or bonds shall be

posted with the Township to ensure the restoration.

5. The owner of the primary dwelling shall file an annual letter with the

Township Housing Committee certifying the continuing compliance by the

permittee with the conditions of the original permit issuance.

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6) CONTACTS

For general information about West Amwell’s ECHO Program,

contact the Township Director of Housing at the Municipal Building

at 150 Rocktown-Lambertville Road.

Mailing address: Director of Housing

West Amwell Township Municipal Building

150 Rocktown-Lambertville Road

Lambertville, NJ 08530-3203

Web address: www.westamwelltwp.org

Phone: 609-397-2054

7) ATTACHMENTS

Attachment A: Qualifying Information

Attachment B: Sample of Disability Verification Letter

Attachment C: Sample of Letter of Approval of Existing Well and Septic

Systems from the Hunterdon County Department of Health

Attachment D: West Amwell Township Planning Board

Minor Site Plan Application

Attachment E: Construction Permit

Cover Letter for Attachment F

Attachment F: Annual Letter Certifying Continuing Compliance

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QUALIFYING INFORMATIONWEST AMWELL TOWNSHIP

ELDER COTTAGE HOUSING OPPORTUNITY (ECHO) HOUSING PROGRAM QUALIFYING INFORMATION

• The ECHO apartment is to be used for senior citizens 62 years of age or older or handicapped/disabled 18 years or older.

• No more than two persons may occupy the unit, one of whom may be a professional caregiver and at least one of whom must be related by blood, marriage or adoption to the lot owner, who mustoccupy the primary residence on the premises.

• The tenant residing in the unit must be the sametenant who was approved by the township for this program.

• The ECHO unit must be maintained in good condition.

DEFINITION OF “DISABLED”

Under federal law, an individual is disabled if he/she has a physical or mental impairment that

substantially limits one or more major life activities; has a record of such an impairment; or is regarded

as having such an impairment. The term physical or mental impairment includes, but is not limited to,

such diseases and conditions as orthopedic, visual, speech, and hearing impairments, cerebral palsy,

autism, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, human

immunodeficiency virus infection, mental retardation, emotional illness, drug addiction, and alcoholism.

This definition doesn’t include any individual who is a drug addict and is currently using illegal drugs

or an alcoholic who poses a direct threat to property or safety because of alcohol use (24 CFR Part 8.3,

and HUD Handbook 4350.3, (Exhibit 2-2).

Attachment A: Qualifying Information

DISABILITY VERIFICATIONWEST AMWELL TOWNSHIP

ELDER COTTAGE HOUSING OPPORTUNITY (ECHO) HOUSING PROGRAM DISABILITY VERIFICATION

DATE

TO VERIFICATION SOURCE NAME

VERIFICATION SOURCE ADDRESS

FROMDIRECTOR OF HOUSING, WEST AMWELL TOWNSHIP

ADDRESS

HOUSEHOLD MEMBER’S NAME

The household member named above has applied for an ECHO (Elder Cottage Housing Opportunity)housing unit in our township. In order to qualify, applicant must be either sixty two years of age orhandicapped/disabled over the age of eighteen. We are required to verify that the household memberqualifies as “disabled” under federal law.

We would appreciate your cooperation in answering the question on this form and returning it to our office at the above address. Enclosed is a self-addressed, stamped envelope for this purpose. The household member has consented to this release of information, as shown on the next page.

INFORMATION REQUESTED:Is the household member disabled as defined on the next page?

YES NO

NAME AND TITLE OF PERSON SUPPLYING INFORMATION:

NAME TITLE

SIGNATURE DATE

Attachment B: Sample of Disability Verification Letter, page 1 of 2

The household member listed on the previous page has consented to this release of the information

on the previous page.

NAME

SIGNATURE DATE

RELATIONSHIP TO HOUSEHOLD MEMBER

DEFINITION OF “DISABLED”

Under federal law, an individual is disabled if he/she has a physical or mental impairment that

substantially limits one or more major life activities; has a record of such an impairment; or is regarded

as having such an impairment. The term physical or mental impairment includes, but is not limited to,

such diseases and conditions as orthopedic, visual, speech, and hearing impairments, cerebral palsy,

autism, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, human immun-

odeficiency virus infection, mental retardation, emotional illness, drug addiction, and alcoholism. This

definition doesn’t include any individual who is a drug addict and is currently using illegal drugs

or an alcoholic who poses a direct threat to property or safety because of alcohol use (24 CFR Part 8.3,

and HUD Handbook 4350.3, (Exhibit 2-2).

Attachment B: Sample of Disability Verification Letter, page 2 of 2

Attachment C: Sample of Letter of Approval of Existing Well and Septic Systems from the Hunterdon County Department of Health

Attachment D: West Amwell Township Planning Board Minor Site Plan Application

PLEASE REQUEST THE CURRENT PLANNING BOARD SITE PLAN APPCLICATION PACKET

FROM THE WEST AMWELL TOWNSHIP CLERK’S OFFICE

609-397-2054

Attachment E: Construction Permit

PLEASE REQUEST THE CURRENT CONSTRUCTION PERMIT APPLICATION PACKET

FROM THE WEST AMWELL TOWNSHIP BUILDING CONSTRUCTION OFFICE

609-397-2036

Dear Owner:

As you are aware, part of your obligation for maintaining an ECHO unit on your property consists of submitting an annual affidavit of continuing use.

West Amwell Township formed a Housing Advisory Committee, which meets on aquarterly basis. One of the missions of this committee is to review and ensure that allECHO units in our township are maintained in good condition and that the tenantsresiding there are eligible for this program.

Enclosed please find the yearly certification form, which must be reviewed and signed by you within the next month. We are also enclosing for your convenience a self-addressed stamped envelope to return this form.

Thank you for your attention to the above matter. Again, your certification must bemailed to us no later than thirty days from receipt of this letter. Please do not hesitateto contact me if you have any questions.

Sincerely yours,

Director of HousingWest Amwell TownshipHunterdon County, NJMailing address:150 Rocktown-Lambertville RoadLambertville, NJ 08530-3203

COVER LETTER for Attachment F (Annual Letter Certifying Continuing Compliance)

CERTIFICATIONWEST AMWELL TOWNSHIP

ELDER COTTAGE HOUSING OPPORTUNITY (ECHO) HOUSING PROGRAM AFFIDAVIT OF CONTINUING USE

HOMEOWNER

ADDRESS

LOT BLOCK

I am the owner of the property described above. This affidavit is a certification that:

A. The ECHO apartment listed above continues to be used for senior citizens 62 yearsof age or older or handicapped/disabled 18 years or older. No more than two persons may occupy the unit, one of whom may be a professional caregiver and at least one of whom must be related by blood, marriage or adoption to the lotowner, who must occupy the primary residence on the premises.

B. The tenant residing in the unit is the same tenant who was approved by the township for this program.

C. The ECHO unit is in good condition.

Failure to house qualified tenants in this program could terminate your participation in ECHO housing.

I certify that all the information contained above is true.

SIGNATURE OF HOMEOWNER DATE

Attachment F: Annual Letter Certifying Continuing Compliance